tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16624239199724631622018-02-17T03:26:58.362-05:00Shark DefendersShark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.comBlogger649125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-27641159216492688752017-02-21T15:16:00.002-05:002017-02-21T15:16:16.511-05:00Mariana Trench Photo Exhibit Help<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U8KmW1k7Aeg/WKyHuUYa59I/AAAAAAAAYIE/FB82Nx0LqWIn7Be4cgMrnBxJOyxxeXMWgCLcB/s1600/1605-summary-map-hires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U8KmW1k7Aeg/WKyHuUYa59I/AAAAAAAAYIE/FB82Nx0LqWIn7Be4cgMrnBxJOyxxeXMWgCLcB/s400/1605-summary-map-hires.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 2016, the Okeanos Explorer went all over the Marianas, both inside and outside the monument.</td></tr></tbody></table>We're helping to put together an educational&nbsp;Mariana Trench photo exhibit and could use some help picking what photos to use, and what information to provide. &nbsp;The Friends of the Mariana Trench have picked about 50 photos from the recent NOAA Okeanos Explorer mission and uploaded them to Facebook. &nbsp;They're asking people to provide input, and havealready gotten a lot. &nbsp;They could use yours, too! &nbsp;Open the Facebook post here:<br /><br /><center><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="721" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmedia%2Fset%2F%3Fset%3Da.1592825360746101.1073741829.151717688190216%26type%3D3&amp;width=500" style="border: currentColor; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe></center><br />They're planning on culling this down to about 20-30 photos, and then putting together the information that will accompany each photo. &nbsp;They're also looking for places and events to display the exhibit, particularly on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.&nbsp; Got any good ideas?&nbsp; Leave them on the Facebook page or in the comments of this blog.</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/SPhjjhCF6ms" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com20http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2017/02/mariana-trench-photo-exhibit-help.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-87551272919071839992016-08-18T13:25:00.000-04:002016-08-18T13:25:03.925-04:00Native Hawaiians Call for World's Largest Marine Reserve<center><iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hE0LIpp2tqw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center><br>The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument “represents a responsibility to care for the place that is our beginning,” says Uncle Sol, a native Hawaiian with a special connection to this place. The 2006 designation of this highly protected ocean habitat in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands marked the beginning of a global movement that's led to the creation of more than a dozen other large-scale marine protected areas.<br><br> With the continued threat of global overfishing and the overall decline in the health of our seas, native Hawaiians are once again working with partners like The Pew Charitable Trusts' Global Ocean Legacy program to call for an expansion of the monument to the limits of the US Exclusive Economic Zone. <br><br> Enlarging Papahānaumokuākea would again position this area as the world’s largest marine reserve and ensure a healthy ecosystem for future generations and the species that depend on it. Expansion to the limits of the U.S. exclusive economic zone would make a remarkable contribution toward reaching critical global targets for ocean conservation.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/mXTEQsqfbyY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com36http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2016/08/native-hawaiians-call-for-worlds.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-37618172193709670332016-08-15T10:45:00.001-04:002016-08-15T10:45:28.884-04:00FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING EXPANSION OF PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENTThe Office of Senator Brian Schatz sent out this FAQ regarding the expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and I thought it was worth resharing. &nbsp;Here is is copied and pasted below:<br /><blockquote>Q: <b>Why expand PMNM?</b><br /><br />A: The best scientific data available support expansion since it will strengthen the health of the Pacific Ocean and directly benefit Hawaii’s fishing industry by creating an area that protects tuna and other marine species. In fact, 1500 scientists have reviewed the proposal and signed a letter indicating that expanding PMNM will protect and expand Hawaii’s fisheries.<br /><br />Q: <b>Will local fishermen be impacted?</b><br /><br />A: No. Local fishermen do not go as far as the proposed monument. The local small boat fleet does not fish west of 163W Longitude so this proposal would have no impact on these fishers, and that is why Kauai Senator Ron Kouchi has publicly announced his support for the proposal.<br /><br />Q: <b>Will the proposal impact Hawaii’s longliners?</b><br /><br />A: Not significantly. Hawaii’s longliners fish primarily for big eye tuna (ahi) in United States and international waters. That fishery is governed by an international tuna treaty that provides a strict quota, or maximum, of 3,554 metric tons. Of that quota amount, the longliners currently catch only about 5% in the proposed expansion area.<br /><br />The Hawaii-based longline industry has had no difficulty in catching fish, and the expansion of the monument will not change that. In fact, in the past several years, the longliners have fished the maximum allowable amount for the year at increasingly earlier dates. In 2015, the longliners used up their quota on August 5. This year, the longliners used up their quota by July 22. Thus, it is the quota set by international treaty and not the size of the PMNM that annually disrupts the supply of ahi to local businesses and residents.<br /><br />Q: <b>Where will the longliners catch the 5% of the ahi that they currently catch in the proposed expansion area?</b><br /><br />A: The longliners will catch ahi in the international and U.S. waters that will remain open, and are currently their preferred fishing areas.<br /><br />Q: <b>Will ahi be more expensive?</b><br /><br />There is no credible economic evidence to support this claim. The only potential additional cost to fishermen with the proposed expansion is a possible increase in fuel. Remember that the longliners are permitted to catch the same amount of fish, they just may not do so in the Monument. Other costs to catch fish would remain the same. Fisheries science proves there is no evidence to suggest that the price of bigeye tuna will increase if expansion occurs. It is a global market, and the price of tuna is mostly set by the market in Japan, where 80% of all sashimi-grade sushi is consumed.<br /><br />Q: <b>Will Hawaii economically benefit if President Obama expands PMNN?</b><br /><br />A: Yes. Hawaii stands to directly benefit from tourism, conferences, and research opportunities related to the expansion of PMNM. As an example, this year, Honolulu hosted the International Coral Reef Symposium in July, which resulted in approximately $9.4 million in visitor related spending. In September, Honolulu will host the World Conservation Congress, which will result in approximately $37.7 million in visitor spending and $3.6 million in tax revenues.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">###</div><br />A thoughtful expansion of the PMNM will continue Hawaii’s long history of sustainable use of the land and oceans into the future, and help ensure that we can give our children the legacy of a healthy, vibrant Pacific Ocean. The PMNM also holds special significance for Native Hawaiians, and Governor David Ige has requested that OHA become a co-trustee for the PMNM, along with the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and the State of Hawaii.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theislandvoices.com/2016/07/star-advertiser-larger-marine-preserve.html">Star Advertiser Editorial: Larger Marine Preserve Makes Sense&nbsp;</a></blockquote><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/KVBFOFsTZ5Q" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com8http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2016/08/frequently-asked-questions-regarding.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-8597097700231707852016-08-13T16:20:00.000-04:002016-08-13T16:20:36.718-04:00Donald Trump on Sharks<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sharks are last on my list - other than perhaps the losers and haters of the World!</p>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/352796146927796226">July 4, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>These tweets from Donald Trump are getting attention this week thanks to the keen eye of David Shiffman down at the University of Miami. I wonder what happened on July 4, 2013 that inspired these? Sad.<br> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sorry folks, I&#39;m just not a fan of sharks - and don&#39;t worry, they will be around long after we are gone.</p>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/352795564930383873">July 4, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/vWexdNXSwNg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com4http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2016/08/donald-trump-on-sharks.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-25285803816332893722016-08-09T10:06:00.002-04:002016-08-09T10:18:39.178-04:00Make Your Own Bycatch Beach<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SFK1i45FTAM/V6ng04TJdkI/AAAAAAAAE34/3w1Ia87U0OklXFqRYeeKSmfWCURRAeVsQCLcB/s1600/bycatchbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SFK1i45FTAM/V6ng04TJdkI/AAAAAAAAE34/3w1Ia87U0OklXFqRYeeKSmfWCURRAeVsQCLcB/s400/bycatchbeach.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bycatch Beach in Maui</td></tr></tbody></table>Two hundred and fifty thousands sharks have been caught by longline fishing vessels in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in the last 25 years -- about 10,000 sharks per year. &nbsp;A smaller, but not insignificant number of seabirds, turtles, whales, and dolphins are also caught as "bycatch." &nbsp;Bycatch are animals that are caught when you are fishing for something else, in the case of Hawaii, the fishermen are targeting bigeye tuna. &nbsp;Some of the bycatch has value, like other species of tuna or mahi mahi, but many species are protected or have no economic value and have to be thrown back in the water, even if they are dead or dying.<br /><br />In an attempt to highlight the threat of bycatch to otherwise protected or managed ecosystems, several conservationists in Hawaii including members of <a href="https://www.808cleanups.org/">808 cleanups</a>, put together an art project called "Bycatch Beach." &nbsp;They cut out silhouettes of some of the species caught as bycatch in Hawaii and displayed them to represent the amounts based on <a href="http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/observer-home/first-edition-update-2">data from the government</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJIVWR_eR2w/V6ng9gBFf6I/AAAAAAAAE38/xjQypcFWuX4j4v4eouEUuFhRTUAAuS1UQCLcB/s1600/bycatch4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJIVWR_eR2w/V6ng9gBFf6I/AAAAAAAAE38/xjQypcFWuX4j4v4eouEUuFhRTUAAuS1UQCLcB/s400/bycatch4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bycatch Beach in Oahu</td></tr></tbody></table>Bycatch Beach has been displayed in Oahu and Maui, with plans for more displays in coming weeks.<br /><br />Do you want to do something similar with your club, organization, or classroom? &nbsp;This is a really fun, easy to do project that is visually compelling. &nbsp;We don't want to give you too many instructions (it's an art project after all), but all you need to do is make silhouettes on colored paper (photocopies are going to be your friend), cut them out, tape or glue them to popsicle sticks, and then find an interesting place to stick them in the ground. &nbsp;In Hawaii, that's the beach! <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-0HsBX93K8/V6nlEhHMYGI/AAAAAAAAE4U/cJA8ZvqpI6UYU-mfRqwPj3RL6Xwarmr4wCLcB/s1600/bycatch%2Bbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-0HsBX93K8/V6nlEhHMYGI/AAAAAAAAE4U/cJA8ZvqpI6UYU-mfRqwPj3RL6Xwarmr4wCLcB/s400/bycatch%2Bbeach.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bycatch Beach cutouts. &nbsp;It's really simple!</td></tr></tbody></table>If you are doing this with a class, the students should spend some time learning about bycatch, what species are affected, and how much occurs in your country. &nbsp;For the United States, all bycatch data is available on the <a href="http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/observer-home/first-edition-update-2">NOAA website</a>. &nbsp;If you live somewhere else, you could contact your government, or simply use global data. &nbsp;For example, 100 million sharks are killed each year.<br /><br />Have fun! &nbsp;And if you decide to try this project out, take lots of photos and please tag us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/sharkdefenders">Twitter</a>!<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Representing longline bycatch through art: 10,000 sharks. 240 turtles. 133 whales and dolphins. 1396 seabirds. <a href="https://t.co/T9twcprzJq">pic.twitter.com/T9twcprzJq</a></div>— Angelo Villagomez (@taotaotasi) <a href="https://twitter.com/taotaotasi/status/762749204594851840">August 8, 2016</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wqFLjYrgYkc/V6nkafnklcI/AAAAAAAAE4M/SyaZAziii5MMQ-H1ZZl7e7Wfr-Zk5CMFACLcB/s1600/IMG_2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wqFLjYrgYkc/V6nkafnklcI/AAAAAAAAE4M/SyaZAziii5MMQ-H1ZZl7e7Wfr-Zk5CMFACLcB/s400/IMG_2023.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bycatch Beach event in Guam</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">You want bycatch with that? One shark is caught for every two bigeye tuna caught in Hawaii! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bycatch?src=hash">#bycatch</a> <a href="https://t.co/NefXl8eEZa">pic.twitter.com/NefXl8eEZa</a></div>— Angelo Villagomez (@taotaotasi) <a href="https://twitter.com/taotaotasi/status/762749695647178752">August 8, 2016</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/EsieHUmJ5Xc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com4http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2016/08/make-your-own-bycatch-beach.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-58522045134101683142016-05-12T16:34:00.000-04:002016-05-12T16:34:01.517-04:00ACTION ALERT: Rob Stewart Joins Effort to Expand Papahanaumokuakea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-protect-threatened-sharks-in-the-northwestern-hawaiian-islands" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cz_1DBLcnvw/VzJCpPpczSI/AAAAAAAAEzU/3yjNfqYWjkw-tHa9Bxn07CwsMlEojjMngCLcB/s400/rob%2Bstewart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Sharkwater and Revolution director and star Rob Stewart has joined the effort to protect sharks in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands by expanding the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. In just under two weeks, the petition started by surfer, photographer, and shark attack survivor Mike Coots has reached more than 35,000 signatures.<br><br> <a href="https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-protect-threatened-sharks-in-the-northwestern-hawaiian-islands">CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION</a><br><br> This has been one of the most viral petitions the Shark Defenders have worked on in our five year history. The petition to protect all of the sharks swimming inside the U.S. EEZ around the Northwest Hawaiian Islands kicked off with a post on Mike's <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEwq3KvImFS/">very popular Instagram account</a>, but very quickly gained traction on social media.<br><br> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="6" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEwq3KvImFS/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I am in dire need of your help. In the last 60 minutes, over 11,000 sharks were needlessly killed. This is hour after hour, day after day, year after year. We are on a very fast track to extinction, and extinction is forever. As president Obama has a few short months left in office, we are pushing him to leave a lasting legacy here in Hawai’i. Right now in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is a marine monument called Papahanaumokuakea. It is a safe area for fish to live undisturbed and reefs to exist as they have been for millions of years. Without having to painstakingly use Congress but with the ease of one pen stroke, Obama can expand the area protected to five times it size and will make Papahanaumokuakea the largest protected area in the world. It will truly be a marine reserve of historic proportions, something all of us will be proud of. Navigator Nainoa Thompson is quoted as saying this expansion will be a gift to the children of the Earth. Fish will have time to mature before spawning, seabeds will be unmolested by mineral mining, and nature will thrive like nature intended. This safe haven will allow fish to get bigger and older. When a female fish doubles her size, her egg production can increase a thousand fold. Fisherman in Hawaii will love this as there will be more spillover of bigger fish in our coastal waters. A protected area of this magnitude will change the health of the entire Pacific ocean for the better. Sharks are very often caught by longliners who’s thousands of hooks indiscrimanatly catch everything that swims in the deep blue. With 47 million of these longline hooks set last year in Hawaii, this is a awful lot of sharks. I have a link in my bio with a very quick way to show your support to the president for the expansion. This is a moment in time that could be a pivotal point for the future of our oceans health. Something we will look back on as a proud step to helping stop the hemorrhaging of Earth most irreplaceable species. I really believe a marine reserve of this scale will save life both under and above water. And we need your help now. Lets be stewards today for what we leave to our children tomorrow. Thank you! 📷Jeff Rotman</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Mike Coots (@mikecoots) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-04-28T22:19:54+00:00">Apr 28, 2016 at 3:19pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> <br> Then when Mike shared it on his Facebook wall, more than 170 people (as of this writing) shared it on their walls:<br><br><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmikecoots%2Fposts%2F10153409461787234&width=500" width="500" height="539" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true"></iframe><br> Hundreds and perhaps thousands of you have helped send this petition around the world. Please keep up the good work, and sign, share, tweet, and post the petition all across the Internet!<br><br> PS<BR><BR>Just the other day, American actor Sean Faris shared the petition with his 67,000 followers on Twitter: <blockquoteclass="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Barack Obama: Protect Threatened Sharks in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands - Sign the Petition! <a href="https://t.co/AdBLcJUTKn">https://t.co/AdBLcJUTKn</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/Change">@Change</a></p>&mdash; Sean Faris(@onlyseanfaris) <a href="https://twitter.com/onlyseanfaris/status/729797008005861377">May 9, 2016</a></blockquote> <script asyncsrc="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/AVaYQnlnSe0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com3http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2016/05/action-alert-rob-stewart-joins-effort.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-70610652941621121032016-05-10T16:58:00.000-04:002016-05-10T17:00:21.660-04:0027,000 Signatures in One Week!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vali1UFK8UY/VzJJvjYIdvI/AAAAAAAAEzk/euzwH3qrhdg8pAoSoiT5Qn7c8PVvNuC_gCLcB/s1600/0504161827_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vali1UFK8UY/VzJJvjYIdvI/AAAAAAAAEzk/euzwH3qrhdg8pAoSoiT5Qn7c8PVvNuC_gCLcB/s400/0504161827_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />According to an article in <a href="http://www.civilbeat.com/2016/05/momentum-builds-to-expand-nw-islands-marine-monument/">Civil Beat</a>, the Obama administration sent a delegation to Hawaii this week to meet with stakeholders, including Native Hawaiians, scientists, local fishermen and the conservation community, who presented cultural and scientific evidence to support expanding the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to fully protect the cultural, historical, and biological significance of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.<br /><br />And guess what?&nbsp; Mike Coots was one of the people asked to attend one of the sessions!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9GOIDnZ5duc/VzJJv2sDVhI/AAAAAAAAEzo/oXpGcY0NkyU2MkPOLHvdSnij_SXZmcXmQCLcB/s1600/0504161827b_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9GOIDnZ5duc/VzJJv2sDVhI/AAAAAAAAEzo/oXpGcY0NkyU2MkPOLHvdSnij_SXZmcXmQCLcB/s400/0504161827b_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Mike personally handed your signatures to government officials representing the Obama administration!&nbsp; There is still time to sign the petition and add your voice to the chorus calling for the expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.&nbsp; Please <a href="https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-protect-threatened-sharks-in-the-northwestern-hawaiian-islands">click here to sign the petition</a>, and don't forget to share, tweet, and post it all across the Internet!<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/rNVzuXmCsH4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com3http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2016/05/27000-signatures-in-one-week.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-86782476451754279642016-04-27T13:44:00.001-04:002016-04-27T13:44:07.757-04:00President Obama: Protect Sharks by Expanding Papahanaumokuakea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yXhn6rKFqww/VyD5BFUDfZI/AAAAAAAAEzA/qfSEW-6OxY45rLh_Gcx8jGx58_7JijMWwCKgB/s1600/mike%2Bcoots%2Bsharks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yXhn6rKFqww/VyD5BFUDfZI/AAAAAAAAEzA/qfSEW-6OxY45rLh_Gcx8jGx58_7JijMWwCKgB/s400/mike%2Bcoots%2Bsharks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I am a surfer, photographer, and shark attack survivor from the island of Kaua'i. I am passionate about marine conservation, particularly what's going on with shark conservation and the rapid decline of shark stocks worldwide. I also feel a calling to help others overcome adversity, and enjoy being an outreach to other amputees and the adaptive/disabled community.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-protect-threatened-sharks-in-the-northwestern-hawaiian-islands">CLICK HERE TO SIGN MIKE'S PETITION TO PROTECT SHARKS IN HAWAII </a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojZFa_fsTSQ/TahFYzsv1ZI/AAAAAAAAALI/ttXWuunhYFoI79n6JwopLKnvES6DfxuxwCKgB/s1600/kesennuma%2Bshark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ojZFa_fsTSQ/TahFYzsv1ZI/AAAAAAAAALI/ttXWuunhYFoI79n6JwopLKnvES6DfxuxwCKgB/s400/kesennuma%2Bshark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It's insane the amount of sharks needlessly killed, about 100 million a year. It is a completely unsustainable rate considering extinction is forever. As an apex predator, they play a invaluable role in our marine ecosystem. We need our oceans to be living and functioning, or our lives, regardless of on land or water, will become greatly affected over time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-protect-threatened-sharks-in-the-northwestern-hawaiian-islands">CLICK HERE TO SIGN MIKE'S PETITION TO PROTECT SHARKS IN HAWAII&nbsp; </a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wqpYDFGFF9s/VyD5BJcw1FI/AAAAAAAAEzE/wDeVdR4sl78gJPupp6rjKWoYU7OuPFNlQCKgB/s1600/MikeCoots_Over-Under2-1058420_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wqpYDFGFF9s/VyD5BJcw1FI/AAAAAAAAEzE/wDeVdR4sl78gJPupp6rjKWoYU7OuPFNlQCKgB/s400/MikeCoots_Over-Under2-1058420_1024x1024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />As a fellow "island boy," President Barack Obama knows the importance of Aloha 'Aina (love of the land) and he has done a lot for sharks since he took office. He signed the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 and has created huge marine protected areas in the Central Pacific that protect all species. The president has only a few more months left in office and there's a few more things he can do to protect threatened shark species here in Hawaii. Please sign this petition to ask President Obama to expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as proposed by prominent members of the Native Hawaiian community.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-protect-threatened-sharks-in-the-northwestern-hawaiian-islands">CLICK HERE TO SIGN MIKE'S PETITION TO PROTECT SHARKS IN HAWAII&nbsp; </a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--K8Q46h2szM/TS3NXC2x1pI/AAAAAAAAAFs/pOxiHpe9zTQQYVmIZ4TkrIEW0szurwtjgCKgB/s1600/tigershark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--K8Q46h2szM/TS3NXC2x1pI/AAAAAAAAAFs/pOxiHpe9zTQQYVmIZ4TkrIEW0szurwtjgCKgB/s400/tigershark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Research also shows that habitats within the existing monument support abundant Galapagos sharks (<i>Carcharhinus galapagensis</i>), tiger sharks (<i>Galeocerdo cuvier</i>), and grey reef sharks (<i>Carcharhinus amblyrhinchos</i>). These species, and others, have been shown to travel to the area of the proposed monument expansion. For example, a combination of fishing data and satellite and acoustic telemetry revealed tiger sharks swim thousands of kilometers along the Hawaiian chain and out into the open ocean, with individuals found more than 600 kilometers offshore.<br /><br />By increasing the size of Papahanaumokuakea, these resident species, and other highly migratory sharks that frequent these waters can be protected. The value of large protected areas to sharks has been demonstrated, and expanded protection in this area will be of benefit to multiple threatened shark species.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-protect-threatened-sharks-in-the-northwestern-hawaiian-islands">CLICK HERE TO SIGN MIKE'S PETITION TO PROTECT SHARKS IN HAWAII&nbsp; </a></div><br />Please join me in encouraging President Obama to go big and expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument according to the proposal put forward by the Native Hawaiian community! #GoBigObama #ExpandPMNM<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/FXcneeZGqAw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com4http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2016/04/president-obama-protect-sharks-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-62522284078747482802016-04-22T12:00:00.000-04:002016-04-22T12:00:23.939-04:00Sustainable Shark Dive Tourism Website Now Live: Best Practices and Trip Reviews<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEZlKCxkLvg/VxeYqsG-s0I/AAAAAAAAEyw/jYD7R7pdplg6WEI0JRKfjcGN3UWFRoY6gCLcB/s1600/ShawnHeinrichs-2012-09-07at19-52-57-37684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cEZlKCxkLvg/VxeYqsG-s0I/AAAAAAAAEyw/jYD7R7pdplg6WEI0JRKfjcGN3UWFRoY6gCLcB/s400/ShawnHeinrichs-2012-09-07at19-52-57-37684.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Angelo enjoying a shark dive</td></tr></tbody></table>Sustainable Shark Diving (<a href="http://www.sustainablesharkdiving.com/">www.sustainablesharkdiving.com</a>), a new website that provides tools and “Trip Advisor-like reviews of shark dive tourism operations around the world is now live. The website, previewed at the 2015 DEMA Show in Florida to overwhelming interest and support, has opened and now offers shark divers an opportunity to learn about best practices while helping to promote more sustainable environmental and safety within the industry.<br /><br />The popularity and growth of shark dive tourism over the past decade is undeniable. Divers increasingly want to see sharks and are willing to pay well to have close encounters with these charismatic species. For a critically threatened group such as sharks, this is good news. “Over 100 million sharks die each year due to interactions with fisheries, “ reports Rick MacPherson, marine biologist, conservationist, and founder of the new online tool Sustainable Shark Diving “I believe a living shark showcased for tourism over its lifetime is better than a dead shark used once for its fins and meat,” says MacPherson. “I created sustainablesharkdiving.com as a free, open access portal for tourists and dive operators to help underscore the value of healthy shark populations to tourism as well as highlight best practices and lessons learned from shark dive operations around the world.” Dr Austin Gallagher, Postdoctoral Researcher at Carleton University and principal author of a ground-breaking 2015 global study of the shark diving industry, agrees, "The value of shark diving tourism to local economies and cultures has emerged as one of the leading arguments for the conservation of sharks around the world."<br /><br />The shark dive tourism industry has already taken note of the value of this new online tool. Jorge Loria, owner of Phantom Divers, a bull shark diving operation in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, believes this tool will help create a higher standard for the growing shark diving industry, “Diving with a sustainable business that is safe and educational results in a benefit to both divers and sharks because the more we know about sharks the better we can protect them.” Mike Neumann, owner of Beqa Adventure Divers in Fiji agrees: “This will be a game changer and a huge step towards propelling the shark diving industry towards a more long term sustainable model.”<br /><br />Sustainable Shark Diving fills an industry need by providing a free, one-stop source for best safety and environmental practices and guidelines that have been established around the world for the viewing of sharks (and their flat cousins the rays). “Sustainable Shark Diving offers visitors a compilation of shark diving best practices and guidelines,” explains MacPherson. “You can search by shark species or by region. Whether you want to dive with white sharks, whale sharks, oceanic whitetip, bull, nurse, or any species, you will find the most currently accepted sustainability guidelines for that type of experience.”<br /><br />Importantly, Sustainable Shark Diving features a Trip Advisor-like review section that allows divers to rate their experience with any shark dive operation against a set of sustainability criteria that includes safety, environmental performance, staff interactions, and overall educational/conservation value. "This tool has enormous potential to begin pushing the entire global industry closer to sustainability and accountability”, says Dr Gallagher. “By allowing the tourists themselves - the lifeblood of this and any tourism industry - to rank the performance, safety, and environmental ethics of operators around the world, the industry as a whole becomes more transparent and we can promote the good and hopefully phase out the bad."<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/_Bz2nxX6WE8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com1http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2016/04/sustainable-shark-dive-tourism-website.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-67254178848998103412015-12-15T14:41:00.000-05:002015-12-15T14:41:00.258-05:00Shark Stanley & Sharks4Kids in St. EustatiusThe Dutch Caribbean islands of St. Eustatius (often shortened to Statia), Saba and Sint Maarten all hosted Shark Weeks this summer. The main goal of these conservation themed weeks was to promote the creation of new shark sanctuaries throughout the Caribbean. The team from STENAPA (St Eustatius National Parks Foundation), led by education and outreach coordinator Claire Blair, hosted an epic week of movies, student activities and even hosted a Shark Stanley day. Duncan and I were supposed to take part in the event, but Hurricane Erika arranged our schedule and sent us back to Florida after less than 24 hours in Sint Maarten. We were scheduled to attend Sea and Learn on Saba in October, so we decided to visit Statia as part of this trip and do a sort of Shark Week 2.0 with the students.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R3Vsz-eMIYo/Vmcx_6aUgWI/AAAAAAAAEx4/qGmff8dIUk8/s1600/BMFinsUplow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R3Vsz-eMIYo/Vmcx_6aUgWI/AAAAAAAAEx4/qGmff8dIUk8/s400/BMFinsUplow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bethel Methodist School</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;We hit the ground running.&nbsp; Claire and marine park manager Jessica Berkel picked us up from the airport and and we headed straight to CSNI (Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute at St Eustatius) for a special edition of the monthly Science Café. Duncan and I gave a presentation about the role of media and science in shark conservation. We had a much larger crowd than expected and thoroughly enjoyed the conversations that followed. It was clear from the minute we arrived: Statia has some shark lovers!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVH4mV4B5ek/VmcyKbeVKiI/AAAAAAAAEyA/uckhFQ7RGyU/s1600/GDGSharkStanleyCrewlow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVH4mV4B5ek/VmcyKbeVKiI/AAAAAAAAEyA/uckhFQ7RGyU/s400/GDGSharkStanleyCrewlow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Rock Roman Catholic School</td></tr></tbody></table>The next day we started our busy tour of the local schools. In the morning we visited both the Golden Rock Roman Catholic School and Bethel Methodist School speaking to students in grades 1-6. During Shark Week, STENAPA had hosted a coloring and art contest for the students and Claire escorted us to each school to award prizes from the contest.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G-TPvwSgLao/VmcyYJL0eXI/AAAAAAAAEyI/EcUZvuro7yE/s1600/ClaireBMpost1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G-TPvwSgLao/VmcyYJL0eXI/AAAAAAAAEyI/EcUZvuro7yE/s400/ClaireBMpost1.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claire</td></tr></tbody></table>In the afternoon we visited the Mega D Youth Foundation and spoke to a group of students ranging form elementary to high school. I am always fascinated by the questions students ask and just how much they actually know about sharks. It is inspiring to see them excited and eager to take part in shark conservation. Many of the students we spoke with had seen a shark, which gives them a personal connection. Seeing an animal in the wild can be very powerful in changing the way people perceive sharks, so starting kids off at a young age can have a life long impact. <br /><br />We rounded out the day with a community presentation at Super Burger and were again pleasantly surprised by the crowd. Kids and adults joined us and engaging conservations were once again had after our talk. I love visiting schools, but it is equally important to engage with the community. These are the people making decisions, supporting regulations and promoting tourism and protecting the local environment. It also gives the community a chance to get to know the people speaking at the schools, our mission and why we do what we do. <br /><br />The next day started earlier because we had a flight to catch in the afternoon. We visited the two other primary schools on the island, Lynch Plantation Seventh Day Adventist School and Governor de Graaf School. Claire gave away more prizes for incredible artwork and Mr. Sharky made an appearance after arriving in my bag (which decided to stay in Sint Maarten a day longer than I did) that morning. It always makes my heart happy seeing gets get excited and want their pictures with the shark. It makes sharks seem fun and we are all about replacing fear with fun and fascination. Getting kids excited and interested increases the likelihood of their continued positive outlook towards sharks as they grow up. <br /><br />We had a wonderful trip and met some really passionate people making incredible efforts to protect the environment. Special thanks to STENAPA, CNSI, Shark Stanley and Shark Defenders. Collaboration can be a beautiful thing and working with Shark Stanley has been an incredible opportunity and a wonderful tool in our outreach programs.<br /><br /><i>Guest blog by Jillian Morris. Jillian is the founder and president of Sharks4Kids, a shark education organization based in Florida. She has a behavioral biology degree and is a professional videographer and photographer who spends most of her time on the island of Bimini, The Bahamas swimming with sharks. You can <a href="https://twitter.com/BiminiSharkGirl">follow Jillian on Twitter</a>.</i> <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/c4fByRpLY_0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com6http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/12/shark-stanley-sharks4kids-in-st.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-8338714465598204522015-12-08T14:21:00.000-05:002015-12-08T14:21:22.210-05:00The Sharks of BiminiHey folks!<br><br> And we're back. Here's a new blog for you!<br><br> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dOPRfS5XVWY/VPmguvDA1NI/AAAAAAAAXNg/DgyPZ2YG_t4/s1600/IMG_4653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dOPRfS5XVWY/VPmguvDA1NI/AAAAAAAAXNg/DgyPZ2YG_t4/s1600/IMG_4653.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nurse shark</td></tr></tbody></table>Bimini, The Bahamas is the sharkiest place I've ever been in my life. &nbsp;It's home to the world famous Sharklab, of course, but it's also a place where large sharks roam freely. &nbsp;In a single day I saw six species of shark, plus three species of ray. &nbsp;The nurse sharks (<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/60223/0">Data Deficient</a>) were everywhere. &nbsp;They were inside the lab's pens, at the dive sites, and swimming in the marina (more photos on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.813983861971227.1073741869.119741978062089&amp;type=1">Facebook</a>).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLipHYTlFQw/VPmhBLMdosI/AAAAAAAAXNo/ZkadWtNxGvI/s1600/IMG_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLipHYTlFQw/VPmhBLMdosI/AAAAAAAAXNo/ZkadWtNxGvI/s1600/IMG_0026.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon shark</td></tr></tbody></table>Lemon sharks (<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39380/0">Near Threatened</a>) were also in the pens. &nbsp;I also saw an adult swimming in the marina.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 8px;"><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a href="https://instagram.com/p/zXvVlwKZ_F/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">#friendly #bullshark at the #biggameclub in #bimini #bahamas #saveoursharks</a></div><div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A video posted by @tadziobervoets on <time datetime="2015-02-21T17:04:18+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 21, 2015 at 9:04am PST</time></div></div></blockquote><br /><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>The bull sharks (<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39372/0">Near Threatened</a>) patrol the Big Game Club marina every day. &nbsp;The scientists at the lab go there to study them. &nbsp;One also came in for a visit when we visited the hammerheads.<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Tie content to specific places! This shark lives in the Bahamas Shark Sanctuary. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/overfishinar?src=hash">#overfishinar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SharkStanley?src=hash">#SharkStanley</a> <a href="http://t.co/VHGVd6CzEB">pic.twitter.com/VHGVd6CzEB</a><br />— Bucky Taotaotasi (@saipanblogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/saipanblogger/status/572843646397124608">March 3, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Caribbean reef (<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/60217/0">Near Threatened</a>) and blacknose sharks (<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/161378/0">Near Threatened</a>) swarmed us at the Triangle Rocks. &nbsp;The reefies are about 5 feet long; the blacknoses are smaller.<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Sharks are worth more alive! Great photo by <a href="https://twitter.com/Sharks4Kids">@Sharks4Kids</a> <a href="http://t.co/rZQOI45CYk">pic.twitter.com/rZQOI45CYk</a><br />— Bucky Taotaotasi (@saipanblogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/saipanblogger/status/568365685035929600">February 19, 2015</a></blockquote>I've swum with all those species at different times, but this was my first time to see a great hammerhead (<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39386/0">Endangered</a>). &nbsp;I spent two days on the water. &nbsp;I saw three on the first day and one on the second.<br /><br />I also saw several spotted eagle rays (<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39415/0">Near Threatened</a>) both at the marina and out on the water, several southern stingrays (<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/60149/0">Data Deficient</a>), and a single yellow-spotted ray (unassessed by IUCN) hanging out in the marina.<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">There's a bunch of sharks in this shark free marina <a href="https://twitter.com/BigGameClub">@BigGameClub</a> Bull sharks and eagle rays! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SharkSanctuary?src=hash">#SharkSanctuary</a> <a href="http://t.co/qrrWajubkw">pic.twitter.com/qrrWajubkw</a><br />— Bucky Taotaotasi (@saipanblogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/saipanblogger/status/564527509903917056">February 8, 2015</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/ycYOzfE531o" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com2http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/12/the-sharks-of-bimini.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-69707157997425693602015-07-30T11:47:00.000-04:002015-07-30T11:51:30.454-04:00The Last Post<center><iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IUAkN_EABUg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center> Well, after 5 years of working on shark conservation with you, we've decided to close up shop. This blog will remain as an archive, and will continue to serve as the repository for all things Shark Stanley. Thank you for your untiring support! And good luck to all of you who are still working so hard to protect sharks around the world.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/D8DiTZSByr4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com3http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/07/the-last-post.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-77980214936652395102015-07-16T12:38:00.001-04:002015-07-16T12:38:30.614-04:00Have you been diving with sharks in The Bahamas?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bpEXLHptAZw/VafdVKy5KEI/AAAAAAAAEus/LJ3HtEQXrL4/s1600/11745941_846832258733304_3392050638866152022_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bpEXLHptAZw/VafdVKy5KEI/AAAAAAAAEus/LJ3HtEQXrL4/s400/11745941_846832258733304_3392050638866152022_n.png" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6LPH0u81bvM5qbb">Click here to take the survey. &nbsp;Thanks!</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Have you ever been shark diving in The Bahamas? &nbsp;The Cape Eleuthera Institute is conducting a study to examine the tourism value of sharks in The Bahamas. &nbsp;Please help them in there study by taking a 10 minute online survey about your diving activities in The Bahamas. &nbsp;All of the responses will be anonymous, and will benefit the conservation of sharks in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. &nbsp;<a href="https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6LPH0u81bvM5qbb">Follow this link</a> to take the survey, and please only do so if you have been diving with sharks in The Bahamas. &nbsp;Also, please help us by sharking this link with others who have swam with the sharks in The Bahamas. &nbsp;Thank you!<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/5OhkOg8IGrM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com1http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/07/have-you-been-diving-with-sharks-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-83837431338830754162015-07-06T17:27:00.001-04:002015-07-06T17:27:12.804-04:00Justin Bieber Wins Shark Week<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/joe_termini">@joe_termini</a> it&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SharkWeek?src=hash">#SharkWeek</a> lol</p>&mdash; Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) <a href="https://twitter.com/justinbieber/status/617887414434934784">July 6, 2015</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br> Every shark conservationist, scientist, and enthusiast has been dreaming of Shark Week for weeks. We've spent hours planning our social media outreach strategy in the hopes that our work will be noticed during this week of hyperfocused attention on sharks.<br><br> And Justin Bieber just beat all of us by tweeting about Shark Week to some dude. As of this writing it has been retweeted 27 thousand times and favorited 34 thousand times. That's more than all our efforts combined. Damn you, Justin Bieber, damn you.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/P5OpiVZfrWE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com1http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/07/justin-bieber-wins-shark-week.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-25907852447606313282015-06-24T09:00:00.000-04:002015-06-24T09:00:03.567-04:005 Questions With Shark Stanley: Speaker Fernando Scaliem<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qyjTBI4xcH4/VWiSB_b5XsI/AAAAAAAAEqY/_Jpc7DYUWvc/s1600/20150513_113110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qyjTBI4xcH4/VWiSB_b5XsI/AAAAAAAAEqY/_Jpc7DYUWvc/s400/20150513_113110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaker Fernando Scaliem and Shark Stanley</td></tr></tbody></table>Speaker Fernando Scaliem has been a member of the Pohnpei Legislature for more than 20 years. &nbsp;Prior to his service in the Legislature he worked in continuing education at the Community College of Micronesia for over a decade. &nbsp;He has championed shark protections on his native island of Pohnpei, at the national level of the Federated States of Micronesia, and internationally as his role as treasurer of the Association of Pacific Islands Legislatures.<br /><br />Speaker Scaliem is our latest Shark Stanley Ambassador.&nbsp; We ask all of our ambassadors the same set of five questions.&nbsp; Here's what the shark man of Micronesia had to say: <br /><b><br /></b><b>Why are sharks important to you?</b><br />Sharks are cleaners and protectors of the ocean. Not only are they important to the health of the ocean, but they have great cultural significance for my people. My clan—tipakua—worshiped this animal. We’re also called “Ribako.” Our clan comes originally from the Gilbert Islands in Kiribati.<br /><br /><b>How are we going to save the world’s sharks?</b><br />We are going to save the world’s sharks by passing legislation to protect sharks and properly enforcing that legislation. It is also incredibly important for us to educate the public on the importance of sharks to our oceans. <br /><br /><b>How are you working to protect sharks?</b><br />I sponsored the shark protection legislation in Pohnpei in 2013. The legislation prohibits shark fishing in Pohnpei’s waters. I worked to convince the other senators in Pohnpei to pass the shark legislation. In fact, Pohnpei was the first state in the Federated States of Micronesia to introduce shark protection legislation. We worked in communities and with students to educate the public and build support for the shark protection law. <br /><br />I also met with Eugene Joseph from the Conservation Society of Pohnpei and asked him to help. He gave me lots of shark conservation t-shirts, which I gave to some of the women in my village. They performed traditional dances wearing these shirts, and that’s when the community support really started to take off. CSP also did a lot of works with young people and held rallies to support our shark law, and the passage of the Federated States of Micronesia national law.<br /><br /><b>Lots of people look up to you, who are your conservation heroes?</b><br />Willy Kostka from Micronesia Conservation Trust and Eugene Joseph from the Conservation Society of Pohnpei.<br /><br /><b>What advice would you give to young conservationists?</b><br />It is our duty to save the world, starting little by little. Support conservation for sharks and all marine animals. We only have one planet and we should all do our part to save it. <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/NuytiUEA5QE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com1http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/06/5-questions-with-shark-stanley-speaker.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-33856215770789689712015-06-17T16:53:00.000-04:002015-06-17T16:53:00.095-04:00Youth Ambassador Profile: Krisma Moore<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqDpI7kTuMY/VSwtFfmkzcI/AAAAAAAAEic/ZnM9AiieuZs/s1600/IMG_6164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqDpI7kTuMY/VSwtFfmkzcI/AAAAAAAAEic/ZnM9AiieuZs/s1600/IMG_6164.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krisma Moore with Shark Stanley and Spencer Eagle Ray</td></tr></tbody></table>Krisma Moore, born, raised, and educated on the Caribbean island of Grenada is our next Shark Stanley Youth Ambassador.<br /><br />Krisma works on the staff of EcoDive, a Grenadian dive company, and is a graduate of the Marine &amp; Wildlife Conservation bachelors program at the St. George’s University. She enjoys using her time, education and skills to educate and empower Grenadians and in her spare time volunteers with two local organizations: The Grenada Green Group; which is an anti-litter coalition that works along with communities and community groups, and Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN Grenada Chapter), a non-profit, civil society, charitable body that focuses its resources on empowering young people and their communities to develop programmes to address socioeconomic and environmental issues. <br /><br />Krisma is currently leading the campaign to <a href="http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/04/shark-stanley-news-from-grenada.html">create a shark sanctuary in Grenada</a>. &nbsp;She makes presentations with community members on the importance of sharks to island ecosystems and is Shark Stanley's biggest fan.<br /><br />We ask each of our Youth Ambassadors the same four questions. &nbsp;Here's what Krisma had to say:<br /><br /><b>When and how did you first become interested in sharks? </b><br />I first became interested in sharks while watching a short shark documentary a few years ago, which made mention of the movie Sharkwater. The documentary aroused concern within me and I looked at the movie Sharkwater immediately after. The movie really put into perspective the magnitude of the problem of the over fishing of Sharks and how this issue can be easily swept under the carpet while our own survival as human beings hangs in the balance.<br /><br /><b>How are you working to help save the world’s sharks? </b><br />Here on the Islands of Grenada, Carriacou, &amp; Petite Martinique I am creating awareness on the issue of Shark finning/ overfishing through presentations within schools, communities, school &amp; community groups and events. I use every opportunity to shed light on the topic and no one is too young or too old. <br /><br /><b>Who are your conservation heroes? </b><br />My conservation heroes are Dr. Andrea Easter Pilcher, Dr. Heather Eves and Dr. Clare Morrall,&nbsp; my advisors and professors of Marine &amp; Wildlife Conservation at University and have and are participating actively in research and education campaigns globally targeting the conservation cause. Last but not least there is my dad who implanted the seed of a passion for conservation through his long talks while hiking through our beautiful rainforests of Grenada or our usual nature walks on evenings while growing up. My values in regards to conservation started here with heated discussions on what can be done about our own endemic species threatened with extinction. <br /><br /><b>How would you suggest other people get involved in the protection of sharks?</b><br />It doesn’t matter how small; every action counts. We can use social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and casual day to day conversation between our peers and community members to spread the message on Shark finning/ overfishing. We can say no to Shark fin soup and any shark parts or by products being sold. We can also support groups and organizations that are locally/ globally fighting for the protection of Sharks like PEW by volunteering time, skills and services. <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/2hzPGe6bDgQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com1http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/06/youth-ambassador-profile-krisma-moore.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-80979996063045308862015-06-16T15:46:00.003-04:002015-06-16T15:47:31.032-04:00Shark Stanley Dives Into Shark Science <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LzNXNCYrsA8/VYB72a-bq4I/AAAAAAAAEtk/gIUKAzFaMAE/s1600/SeacampgirlsStanley1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LzNXNCYrsA8/VYB72a-bq4I/AAAAAAAAEtk/gIUKAzFaMAE/s400/SeacampgirlsStanley1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Sharks4Kids recently teamed up with Seacamp and Dr. Jeffrey Carrier for a 2- day shark science immersion program for young women in the Florida Keys. The group of eight grade students spent the first day learning all about shark biology, anatomy and conservation. When asked, many of the students were nervous about sharks, but were excited to learn more about them. In the afternoon they each got to lead the work up of a juvenile nurse shark. <br /><br />The work ups included measuring (2 length measurements), weighing, taking a DNA sample (small tissue sample from the trailing edge of the shark’s dorsal fin) and inserting a PIT tag and a roto tag. PIT (like a microchip for your pet) tags are inserted just under the skin below the first dorsal fin and the roto tags are placed at the edge of the dorsal fin. Each shark was then released. Nurse sharks are extremely hardy and during each work up their gills and eyes were kept wet. The girls worked as a team to get this done quickly and efficiently in order to reduce stress on the animal. Shark Stanley even joined in!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5z-y5ccn120/VYB8B2rewTI/AAAAAAAAEts/BBKEU6VbnVk/s1600/measure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5z-y5ccn120/VYB8B2rewTI/AAAAAAAAEts/BBKEU6VbnVk/s400/measure.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On the second day we headed out to set lines and let the students work through the entire process of setting, waiting, catching, doing a work up and releasing the animal. I still get excited when a research line is being pulled in because you never know what you might catch and it was amazing to see that same excitement in each one of the girls. Even though the only sharks we caught were more nurses, the girls remained interested and did a phenomenal job. The high light was catching a shark they had tagged the previous day. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHqQq_DF2Yc/VYB8KOYkzvI/AAAAAAAAEt0/qHnumigmpXs/s1600/sharkcrewrelease2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dHqQq_DF2Yc/VYB8KOYkzvI/AAAAAAAAEt0/qHnumigmpXs/s400/sharkcrewrelease2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The main goal of the project was to expose young women to real life science in action. “Before this experience I thought marine scientists only observed organisms in the lab. I did not think they were hands on with organisms, “ one student had to say. The other goal was to make them aware of the global shark crisis that is happening and how they can be part of the solution. They have the ocean in their backyard, so empowering these students is critical, especially in a state where way too many sharks are still killed for sport. “This experience made me think of reasons why sharks are not scary and why there are so many misconceptions,” another student had to say about her experience. <br /><br />We also discussed Shark Stanley and his role in supporting the establishment of shark sanctuaries. They loved the stickers and even the adults were eager to rock the temporary tattoos. Although Stanley is a cartoon, he has become an iconic symbol for saving sharks. Young or old, we can all make a difference and he is encouraging kids of all ages to do just that. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UH9woEVQYMY/VYB8OiEqZoI/AAAAAAAAEt8/u5TMPVGiBlc/s1600/SharkGirlsSHarkStankey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UH9woEVQYMY/VYB8OiEqZoI/AAAAAAAAEt8/u5TMPVGiBlc/s400/SharkGirlsSHarkStankey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I created Sharks4Kids to not only educate kids about sharks, but to also get them out in the ocean to see these remarkable animals. This program was extremely rewarding and provided our whole team with an optimism regarding the future of our oceans, plus it was just a lot of fun! We are planning more of these programs and Shark Stanley will join us on each adventure! <br /><br /><i>Guest blog by Jillian Morris. Jillian is the founder and president of Sharks4Kids, a shark education organization based in Florida. She has a behavioral biology degree and is a professional videographer and photographer who spends most of her time on the island of Bimini, The Bahamas swimming with sharks. You can <a href="https://twitter.com/BiminiSharkGirl">follow Jillian on Twitter</a>.</i><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/qiozgBtVvYQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com2http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/06/shark-stanley-dives-into-shark-science.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-14145917576216439192015-06-03T10:11:00.000-04:002015-06-03T10:11:00.051-04:005 Questions With Shark Stanley: Achmat Hassiem<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd298ouQ3VY/VS0i9tQM10I/AAAAAAAAEiw/YxcUTEL0PlQ/s1600/IMG_5196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd298ouQ3VY/VS0i9tQM10I/AAAAAAAAEiw/YxcUTEL0PlQ/s1600/IMG_5196.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Achmat Hassiem and Shark Stanley in Washington, DC</td></tr></tbody></table>Athletes can defend sharks, too. &nbsp;Our latest Shark Ambassador is South African Olympian Achmat Hassiem. &nbsp;He has been an advocate for sharks with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SharkAttackSurvivors?fref=ts">Shark Attack Survivors for Shark Conservation</a> and was the opening speaker for the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), also called the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsgbFWWulQI">Shark COP</a>," in 2014.<br /><br />Achmat Hassiem lost a leg in 2006 during an encounter with a great white shark while he and his brother were training to be lifeguards. As Achmat distracted the animal so his brother could get into a boat, the shark attacked, dragging him underwater. Hassiem's brother grabbed his outstretched arm and hauled him aboard the boat to safety. <br /><br />Undaunted by his injury and fitted with a prosthetic, Hassiem swam in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and won a bronze medal at the 2012 London games. He has set numerous national swimming records in his native South Africa and in Africa and is the world champion for the Paralympics 200-meter butterfly.<br /><br />Achmat continues to train and compete with his sights set on winning the gold at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janiero. <br /><br />We ask each of our Shark Ambassadors the same set of 5 questions. &nbsp;Here's what Achmat had to say:<br /><br /><b>Why are sharks important to you?</b><br />Sharks are our oceans apex predators. Not only are they awesome, powerful, and beautiful creatures, but they play an important role in keeping our oceans balance in order. Without Sharks our oceans cannot function properly.<br /><br /><b>How are we going to save the world’s sharks?</b><br />By creating awareness and creating and developing shark sanctuaries all around the world.<br /><br /><b>How are you working to protect sharks?</b><br />I am a shark attack survivor, and who better to speak for the protection of sharks than a shark attack survivor? My experiences with the attack and love for our oceans combined with motivation and conservation works well to push the message through for shark protection. Being known as “Sharkboy,” I use the media through my speeches as well as create awareness to our youth.<br /><br /><b>Lots of people look up to you, who are your conservation heroes?</b><br />My heroes are all those who make it their life’s work to protect our planet and the various species that call it home.<br /><br /><b>What advice would you give to young athletes?</b><br />Impossible is nothing, possible is you and me! &nbsp;Captain Planet said it best, “The power is yours!”<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/yEkEfIfkwzg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com1http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/06/5-questions-with-shark-stanley-achmat.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-19922539583284701642015-06-02T10:43:00.000-04:002015-06-02T10:43:11.766-04:00Marshall Islands Fines Vessel $55,000<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9bP75zIi-I/VW3ASqfJDPI/AAAAAAAAErA/nUyp8WW47Sc/s1600/Marshalls-Sep2012-Card16-2012-09-11at23-01-16-38804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t9bP75zIi-I/VW3ASqfJDPI/AAAAAAAAErA/nUyp8WW47Sc/s400/Marshalls-Sep2012-Card16-2012-09-11at23-01-16-38804.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bernard Biubala</td></tr></tbody></table>A purse seiner registered in the Federated States of Micronesia was charged with one count of possession of sharks, a violation of the Republic of the Marshall Islands fisheries law. &nbsp;During a routine boarding, Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority Observer Program Advisor Bernard Biubala and three other MIMRA observers discovered several shark carcasses on the deck of the vessel. &nbsp;The case, involving the vessel MV Mathawmarfach and its parent company Yap Seagull Inc., resulted in an out of court settlement with the company paying $55,000 to MIMRA.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/fGDFDYAUhvE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com2http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/06/marshall-islands-fines-vessel-55000.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-43217284937632991842015-05-27T10:35:00.000-04:002015-05-27T10:35:00.553-04:00Youth Ambassador Profile: Joseph Casila<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KPy_TqkLpHM/VTT4H5_Q0LI/AAAAAAAAElc/SrD1iztL3C4/s1600/IMG_5411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KPy_TqkLpHM/VTT4H5_Q0LI/AAAAAAAAElc/SrD1iztL3C4/s1600/IMG_5411.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joseph and Shark Stanley</td></tr></tbody></table>Joseph Casila, a high school student on Guam is our next Shark Stanley Youth Ambassador. &nbsp;Joseph was born on Guam, raised in the Philippines, went back to Guam, and has now lived back on island for the last 12 years. He's always enjoyed solving problems, so for the past year (after taking marine biology at George Washington High School), he's been working to solve the problem of Guam not being a shark sanctuary.<br /><br /><b>When and how did you first become interested in sharks?</b><br />I first became interested in sharks in 6th grade when we learned about their special abilities in preparation for a field trip to Underwater World. When I first learned about their Ampullae of Lorenzini, I thought to myself, "These fish must be the super humans of the sea." From then, I just looked at them as super cool animals. On the other hand, I became interested in saving sharks after watching the documentary called Shark Fin Soup. Again, I like solving problems and people killing sharks just because they are "scary" or supposedly a "delicacy" is a big problem that I want to solve. I just don't see the logic in killing sharks.<br /><br /><b>How are you working to help save the world's sharks?</b><br />Right now, I am coordinating a contest I created called the Save Our Sharks Video Contest. The contest aims to educate the public, spread the love, and remove the fear of sharks. I believe that most are only afraid because they don't understand. Hopefully by the end of the contest and after we publicize the contest videos, people would learn, love, or at least understand how amazing sharks really are. On another spectrum of the Save Our Sharks campaign, I plan on introducing a Youth Congress legislation to create a shark sanctuary with as much authority over the ocean as our local government has. Also, I plan to work on ensuring that existing shark fin bans are followed.<br /><br /><b>Who are your conservation heroes?</b><br />My conservation hero is without a doubt <a href="http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2011/05/guam-shark-advocates.html">Ms. Linda Tatreau</a>. She has done so much conservational work, been with Marine Mania for so many years, and have inspired so many lives through her love and commitment to the environment. I am one of them! When she picks up a plastic bottle in public, it would make you question why our society doesn't have the same attitude towards the environment like her. Before meeting her, I would be uncomfortable picking up trash in public just like how some people would think picking up trash is "un-classy". However after one quarter with her, I couldn't be more proud of running after a plastic bag being carried away by the wind because I know I'm saving the environment and it's what other people should be doing anyway. That is just a tidbit of how heroic Ms. Tatreau is. There's no one else I know who's convservation efforts and attitude are so astounding that it's contagious. Another heroic thing about Ms. Tatreau is how she makes work fun and feel like it's not work at all! Because of her, recycling isn't really recycling; it's saving animals by helping prevent pollution. Because of her, campaigning also isn't really campaigning; it's simply helping to preserve the ocean's ecosystem. She not only taught me, but also showed and inspired me to do conservation work. She not only was a teacher, but was also a hero to me.<br /><br /><b>How would you suggest other people get involved in the protection of sharks?</b><br />If you're not interested in saving sharks yet, it'll be great news to hear that it's not hard to find interest. All you have to do is educate yourself about sharks and all the things being done to them. Once you've done those two things, you'll know exactly what I mean when I say it's hard to not become an advocate. You'll want to do something about it because sharks are just amazing creatures that need to be protected. For me, all it took was a supportive team and an hour or two of watching Shark Fin Soup to start advocating sharks. For those who already do want to help protect sharks, the easiest thing you can do is to educate yourself and especially others. For example, when you hear someone talking about how sharks are out to devour people who swim in the ocean, stop and inform them before they spread misleading statements to others. Just because they can smell a single drop of blood 3 miles away, it's not logical in thinking that a shark will swim that distance just to intentionally eat something that is (1) unknown to them and (2) not even part of their food chain. For those who feel like they want to help on a much bigger scale, I would suggest joining/starting a group or organization to further increase the educational delivery to an even bigger audience. To me, misunderstanding is the biggest hurdle in saving our sharks. A lot of people are just misinformed and scared for now. That is why public awareness and education are what I push for the most. It's only when the public reach a genuine understanding for sharks, can we all, as community, move to save them. To hear the word shark and have something positive be the first thing that come into people's minds instead of things like sharp teeth and killing machine is something that I can only dream of for now. Hopefully through advocates' hard work, that time will come soon and people will finally understand how amazing and important sharks really are.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/3qKdL7DVBNI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com1http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/05/youth-ambassador-profile-joseph-casila.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-76820031192647327782015-05-20T09:00:00.000-04:002015-05-20T09:00:01.552-04:005 Questions With Shark Stanley: Charlotte Vick<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-utHN6utb59E/VR7RvH8Ow0I/AAAAAAAAEc8/gSvnga5Ti4U/s1600/charlotte%2Bvick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-utHN6utb59E/VR7RvH8Ow0I/AAAAAAAAEc8/gSvnga5Ti4U/s1600/charlotte%2Bvick.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlotte met Shark Stanley in Washington, DC</td></tr></tbody></table>It's time to meet our next Shark Ambassador.<br /><br />As Shark Stanley makes his way around the world, he gains the support of scientists, conservationists, athletes, celebrities, entrepreneurs, and politicians. We are honoring the best minds in shark conservation as Shark Ambassadors and will highlight them in a series of upcoming blogs. We'll ask each Ambassador five questions to learn about their work, their opinion on how we will save sharks, and advice to young people who want to follow in their footsteps.<br /><br />Charlotte Vick is a specialist in coastal management, government, maritime policy, technology and planning who works at community, state, national and international levels. In 2008, she joined the Sylvia Earle Alliance, Google and a team of scientists and hundreds of partners to develop a new platform for ocean education. Using curated imagery, scientific information and data on Google Earth, the team pioneered new ways of visualization that now routinely access and display the critical planetary ocean and atmospheric systems enabling leaders and citizens to know more about even the most remote places such as the Marianas Trench. <br /><br />We ask the same five questions of all of our Shark Ambassadors. Here's what Charlotte had to say.<br /><br /><b>Why are sharks important to you?</b><br />Sharks are an ancient species that has served ocean ecosystems for millions of years. Healthy ecosystems need healthy populations of sharks. And, they are beautiful creatures who are seriously misunderstood by humans.<br /><br /><b>How are we going to save the world's sharks?</b><br />We save the world's sharks by allowing them to not only survive, but thrive.<br /><br /><b>How are you working to protect sharks?</b><br />In addition to supporting legislation to protect sharks in state and national waters around the US, I work with shark advocates to create video and photo based stories that educate people of all ages in multiple languages as part of the team of the Sylvia Earle Alliance and Mission Blue. <br /><br /><b>Lots of people look up to you, who are your conservation heroes?</b><br />I am very proud to work with Dr. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and marine biologist who is one of the world's great ocean advocates. I also admire <a href="http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/03/5-questions-with-shark-stanley-dr.html" target="_blank">Professor Callum Roberts</a> a conservation biologist from the UK, Dr. Carl Safina, a superb writer and ecologist, Dr. Edith Widder, explorer and marine scientist, and film director Louie Psihoyos. <br /><br /><b>What advice would you give to young conservationists?</b><br />Young conservationists should get into the field as often as they can, read books written by those above and others, see conservation and natural history films and volunteer in their home community. A good grounding in sciences from school will serve them well throughout their lives.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/vvpU7SK3BKY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com0http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/05/5-questions-with-shark-stanley.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-80822821896026222342015-05-13T13:27:00.000-04:002015-05-13T15:30:49.263-04:00Youth Ambassador Profile: Tina Randall<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVWW5217HQo/VR7MkgkSWaI/AAAAAAAAEco/On5GPVE9zyE/s1600/tina.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wVWW5217HQo/VR7MkgkSWaI/AAAAAAAAEco/On5GPVE9zyE/s400/tina.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tina Randall takes a swim with Shark Stanley</td></tr></tbody></table>As Shark Stanley circles the globe he comes across young people who are working to save sharks. These Youth Ambassadors inspire the rest of us, old and young alike, to take action to make changes in our own backyards.<br /><br />Tina Randall is our second Youth Ambassador from the Caribbean. She lives in the Turks and Caicos Islands where she works on a family farm with just about every animal you can imagine, but her favorite animal is Shark Stanley. Tina’s favorite activities include getting kids riled up for shark conservation, diving with Shark Stanley and dressing up in a shark mascot costume and twerking like a tiger shark.<br /><br />All of the Youth Ambassadors are asked the same set of four questions. Here's what Tina had to say:<br /><br /><b>When and how did you first become interested in sharks?</b><br />I fell in love with sharks when I did a semester in the Galapagos Islands studying marine biology. After diving with Hammerheads and free diving with 25 whitetip sharks by myself, I felt a strong connection with sharks. I was addicted to the exhilarating and humbling feeling you get when they look you in the eyes. When I saw the piles and truckloads of dead sharks on mainland Ecuador, a fire was lit inside me to save sharks. My passion grew into a senior thesis on their conservation. This influenced my peers to contact government and put fuel into the movement that contributed to the Oregon HB 2838 that bans possession, trade and sale of shark fins.<br /><br /><b>How are you working to help save the world’s sharks?</b><br />A team of hardcore chicks in the Turks and Caicos are cultivating a culture of children who care about shark protections. One kid at a time, we are changing perceptions of sharks from a fearful “Jaws” to an appreciative “sharks are Jawsome” attitude. Once kids get over the fact that sharks are not trying to eat them they get so excited to learn about all the cool species and what they do for the marine ecosystem. Some kids who had never even swam in the ocean before beg to go snorkeling and see a shark. Recently the Turks and Caicos’ hosted our first Shark Conservation Weekend. Conservationist Rob Stewart and the #TCISHARK crew visited dozens of schools, went scuba diving with local children, and drew over 250 guests to a screening of his documentary Sharkwater. <br /><br /><b>Who are your conservation heroes?</b><br />After having the opportunity to spend Shark Conservation Week with Rob Stewart I would have to say he is at the top of my list. One person with one documentary was able to reach millions. How inspiring for someone so young to create such a beautiful documentary that helps change people’s perceptions of sharks and see them for what they really are, totally jawsome! Seeing him talk in person is inspiring and makes me want to have them same effect on an audience.<br /><br /><b>How would you suggest other people get involved in the protection of sharks?</b><br />I think it is really important to know your audience and be confident. You have to organize your argument and speak differently to a fisherman than would a government official or a school child. You have to understand what the person cares about and how they can benefit from shark protections. And make it fun for kids!<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/zp6k61aa5ns" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com0http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/05/youth-ambassador-profile-tina-randall.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-27827160071543694432015-05-11T09:00:00.000-04:002015-05-11T09:00:02.807-04:00Leah Meth on Sharkbait's Chumline<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UCXcRtuD1qo/VU7jqYG-7lI/AAAAAAAAEnc/VuZLE9-z7Ys/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UCXcRtuD1qo/VU7jqYG-7lI/AAAAAAAAEnc/VuZLE9-z7Ys/s400/IMG_1076.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott and his family.</td></tr></tbody></table>Shark Attack Survivor for Shark Conservation Scott Curatolo-Wagemann interviewed Leah Meth on his podcast, Sharkbait's Chumline last week. The interview is split over three parts and can be found <a href="http://sharkb8chumline.blogspot.com/2015/04/podcast-1-april-27-2015-interview-part.html">here</a>, <a href="http://sharkb8chumline.blogspot.com/2015/04/podcast-2-april-29-2015-interview-part.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://sharkb8chumline.blogspot.com/2015/05/podcast-3-may-1-2015-interview-part-3.html">here</a>. I won't steal Scott and Leah's thunder, but in part one they talk about Leah and how she came up with Shark Stanley, part two talks about CITES in 2013, and part three talks about the new campaign.<br /><br />Scott interviewed Angelo Villagomez about Shark Stanley and CITES two years ago, too. That interview plays over 5 parts, and you can find it <a href="http://sharkb8chumline.blogspot.com/2013/02/podcast-7february-25-2013-angelo.html">here</a>, <a href="http://sharkb8chumline.blogspot.com/2013/02/podcast-7february-25-2013-angelo.html">here</a>, <a href="http://sharkb8chumline.blogspot.com/2013/02/podcast-8-february-26-2013-angelo.html">here</a>, <a href="http://sharkb8chumline.blogspot.com/2013/02/podcast9-february-27-2013-angelo.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://sharkb8chumline.blogspot.com/2013/03/podcast11-march-1-2013-angelo.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Oh, and Scott's been helping us out for some time now.&nbsp; Here he is with his son when he was only 3 1/2, helping out with our Shark Stanley campaign at CITES two years ago. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GyBulTH5ZDg/VU7jq8LiOsI/AAAAAAAAEng/W-_osHVAISI/s1600/IMG_6832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GyBulTH5ZDg/VU7jq8LiOsI/AAAAAAAAEng/W-_osHVAISI/s400/IMG_6832.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott and his son in 2013.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/drATaXnse_w" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com0http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/05/leah-meth-on-sharkbaits-chumline.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-62543044023043135752015-05-06T14:26:00.000-04:002015-05-06T14:26:00.335-04:00Youth Ambassador Profile: Jillian Morris<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9voZPX8RNQ4/VSB0un1arUI/AAAAAAAAEgs/e8cJ1ON2xl0/s1600/Jillian%20with%20Stanley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9voZPX8RNQ4/VSB0un1arUI/AAAAAAAAEgs/e8cJ1ON2xl0/s1600/Jillian%20with%20Stanley.jpg" height="400" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jillian and Shark Stanley</td></tr></tbody></table>As Shark Stanley circles the globe he comes across young people who are working to save sharks. &nbsp;These Youth Ambassadors inspire the rest of us, old and young alike, to take action to make changes in our own backyards.<br /><br />Jillian Morris is the founder and president of <a href="http://www.sharks4kids.com/">Sharks4Kids</a>, a shark education organization based in Florida. She has a behavioral biology degree and is a professional videographer and photographer who spends most of her time on the island of Bimini, The Bahamas swimming with sharks. <br /><br />All of the Youth Ambassadors are asked the same set of four questions. &nbsp;Here's what Jillian had to say:<br /><br /><b>When and how did you first become interested in sharks?</b><br />I saw my first shark when I was 8 years old snorkeling in Florida. I was fascinated by all sea creatures, but was especially excited about seeing a shark in the wild. I was hooked (no pun intended) from that point! <br /><br /><b>How are you working to help save the world’s sharks?</b><br />I honestly believe kids can make a difference and that is why I started Sharks4Kids. Our goal is to empower and inspire students to speak up for sharks and for the oceans. We are providing students and teachers with a wide range of educational materials and information, as well as connecting with them in the classroom. We have spoken with over 20,000 students in 25 different countries and 42 US States! <br /><br /><b>Who are your conservation heroes?</b><br />Rachel Carson, Sylvia Earle and my mom! <br /><br /><b>How would you suggest other people get involved in the protection of sharks?</b><br />Do not buy shark products (meat, cartilage. Jaws or squalene based). This is a simple easy step we can all make. Do not be afraid to ask what is in something. Make sustainable seafood choices if you eat seafood. Where did it come from? How was it caught? If there is bycatch, is it sustainable? Get involved. Find a local organization to help with; read a shark book to kids at a school, volunteer at an event or join a beach cleanup. <br /><br /><i>You can follow <a href="https://twitter.com/BiminiSharkGirl" target="_blank">Jillian on Twitter</a>.</i><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/LwP1LOL55fY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com0http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/05/youth-ambassador-profile-jillian-morris.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662423919972463162.post-39123564395790402112015-04-29T09:00:00.000-04:002015-04-29T17:01:27.586-04:005 Questions With Shark Stanley: Dr. Carl Safina<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZIv0e-QXoQ/VTkSzeDN5DI/AAAAAAAAEmM/7LrEX58muDc/s1600/safina%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZIv0e-QXoQ/VTkSzeDN5DI/AAAAAAAAEmM/7LrEX58muDc/s1600/safina%2B1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carl Safina and Shark Stanley</td></tr></tbody></table>Every week we profile an <a href="http://www.sharkdefenders.com/p/ambassadors.html">established shark champion</a> or an <a href="http://www.sharkdefenders.com/p/youth-ambassadors.html">up and coming ocean hero</a>. &nbsp;This week we were privileged to talk to Dr. Carl Safina, arguably the world's best science communicator.<br /><br /><a href="http://carlsafina.org/">Dr. Carl Safina</a> is founding president of the Safina Center. Audubon magazine named him among the leading 100 conservationists of the 20th Century. His award-winning books include Song for the Blue Ocean and Voyage of the Turtle, and he’s been profiled by the New York Times, Nightline, and Bill Moyers. His awards include a Pew Fellowship, the John Burroughs Medal, Guggenheim Fellowship, and a MacArthur Prize, among others. <br /><br />We ask each of our ambassadors the same set of questions and they always have unique, inspiring perspectives. &nbsp;Here is what Dr. Safina had to say:<br /><br /><b>Why are sharks important to you?</b><br />They don’t have to be important to <i>me</i>. They have been here for millions of years. With them, the world works. They help maintain the stability of natural communities in which they live. Personally I find them beautiful, exciting, and fascinating.<br /><br /><b>How are we going to save the world’s sharks?&nbsp;</b><br />Leave them alone! They’ll know what to do. Honor their presence as right, because they belong in the world.<br /><br /><b>How are you working to protect sharks?&nbsp;</b><br />I’ve helped work on restrictions to catches, bans on cutting off their fins, and wider appreciation. I like to fish for sharks but I don’t kill them. Sometimes I just like watching them from the boat or diving with them.<br /><br /><b>Lots of people look up to you, who are your conservation heroes?&nbsp;</b><br />Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold, and David Brower<br /><br /><b>What advice would you give to young conservationists?</b><br />Love nature, enjoy nature, get outside, find the right balance between enjoyment of nature and work to protect it, don’t get discouraged by small slow steps; that’s how it goes. But we have made lots of progress.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SharkDefenders/~4/KsRYDsn-62Q" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Shark Defendershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02431027663009473972noreply@blogger.com0http://www.sharkdefenders.com/2015/04/5-questions-with-shark-stanley-dr-carl.html